CLEVELAND -- The visual of José Ramírez hustling on the basepaths is synonymous with his game. The Guardians’ third baseman’s baserunning is an integral part of his superstardom, certainly when it comes to stealing bases.
Ramírez is taking things to a new level this season, one not seen in Cleveland since the days of Kenny Lofton.
Ramírez recorded two stolen bases in the Guardians’ 7-4 win over the Reds at Progressive Field on Saturday, and now has 20 steals through Cleveland’s first 47 games. That has only happened five other times in franchise history.
20 or more steals through Cleveland’s first 47 games
Kenny Lofton: 30 (1996)
Kenny Lofton: 25 (1994)
Kenny Lofton: 21 (1993)
Kenny Lofton: 22 (1992)
José Ramírez: 20 (2026)
Harry Bay: 20 (1905)
Ramírez led the Majors in steals when the Guardians’ win went final on Saturday. If you’re wondering, Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz was the last player to steal 30 bases through a team’s first 47 games. He had exactly that many in 2024.
Lofton is the greatest basestealer in Cleveland history and holds the franchise record with 452 stolen bases. Ramírez joined him as the only other player with 300 steals on May 3, and continues to flex his status as one of the best baserunners this franchise has seen.
“That’s him. Everybody knows what he's capable of,” Guardians outfielder Angel Martínez said of Ramírez. “His jump, his focus every single day, and through every single game, through every single inning, he's showing us how to play the game. We know what he can do, and he's doing it.”
Ramírez broke a tie with Lou Boudreau for sixth in franchise history in hits on Saturday, with a 2-for-4 showing. He’s up to 1,707 career knocks, putting him 44 shy of tying Charlie Jamieson for fifth place.
The Guardians led, 6-4, in the eighth when Ramírez lined a base hit to right field off Reds right-hander Connor Phillips. Knowing Cleveland needed an insurance run, Ramírez took off for second on Phillips’ next pitch, a four-seamer low to Chase DeLauter. Catcher Tyler Stephenson did not make a throw to second, where Ramírez slid in safely.
DeLauter drew a walk to bring Kyle Manzardo to the plate. Ramírez took off on Phillips’ 0-1 offering to Manzardo and slid into third with a headfirst slide. Ramírez was initially ruled out, but was called safe after a replay review. He scored moments later when Phillips committed an error trying to field a Travis Bazzana comebacker. Bazzana also reached safely.
“Hosey created that run,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “He knew he needed to get to third and made it happen. Hosey doesn't run when he's not supposed to. He runs when he's supposed to, and everyone knows he's going, and he still gets there. It's pretty impressive.”
Ramírez is the engine that drives the Guardians’ offense. He also is the standard which everyone else follows. When the team’s superstar hustles and plays as hard as he does, other players know they must do so, too.
“Playing this game is really hard,” Martínez said, “and at the age that he is right now playing with a fire, with a hustle every single game is not easy to do. For us, it’s the best example that we can have.”